The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-04-29
SELECT STORY.
THE CAPTAINS PROBATION.

the party was Captain Armstrong, o
the navy and the Captain and the youn!
heir became great friends. Lady Par
dock seemed to despise the Captain
little. She was fine, handsome wo
man; tall, well-made and well dressed
She and Henry, another guest, wer
good friends. She was interested il
his mining aud was quite as ready t,
go down in the mines as she was U
sail in Mr.. Hemphill's yacht, the Fire
fly.
"Y You are, of course, great traveller
Captain Armstrong ?" she said one da,
TO the sailor.
"No,' he replied carrlessly. 81 hav,
been around the world, not much in il,
A sailor sees good deal, and there i.
something worth seeing occasionally
too"
"Have you ever been in q battle p
she asked again.
"Never, l am thankful to say" b,
replied
you are surely-not-serious7" she
said.
81 am quite serious-I dread battle
OF course I should fight if l had to dc
so--but Itrust l never SHALL
81 wonder you entered the navy
Captain Armstrong" she half speered
"You should have been Quaker
at was not my own choice, Lady
Pardock, he answered.
"He would make an excellent coun.
try parson,' she remarked 10 hei
neighbor, Captain Martyn-Henry and
very soon atterward the ladies left the
diDing-room. From that time Lady
Pardock seemed to think the sailor
what Charley calls "a muff"
One day we started to Ludworth
Cove. They all had heard Of it, bu,
few had ever been there. The wind
was blowing briskly from the south
east-a favorable quarter, and, as Mr.
Hemphill said, "If it does veer to the
southwest, all the better; it will bring
us home the faster"
wont you come, Armstrong p
asked MIR. Hemphll.
"No.' thank you, 81 don't care much
for sailing. Besides you are quite
enough in that craft without me. !
should only prove a Jonah"
"Why. do you think a storm will
, come on?'
'lt does no. look like settled wealth
er, ! must say" replied the Captain
cautiously. "But you can always soud,
you know ~
"Thank you" replied Hemphil.
But, seriously, Lady Pardock, if you
fear"
"Fear! fear! No; l think Captain
Armstrong is afraid. Let US 90, Mr..
Hemphill.' He at once gave the word
to shove off: The yacht was lying at
a little distance out, as the tide was low,
So we went on board whittier Mrs.
Cardewe had already proceeded. Cap
tain Armstrong had merely taken off
his hat when Lady Pardock referred
to him so contemptuously. But knew
quite well she respe cted his nature, and
his cool firmness, for all her cnldness
to him. was certain she thought of
what he said, for more than once |
had heard her talking to her boy, and
he told her what his friend, the Cap
tain, had bidlen him to do. Lady
Pardock always agreed with her son
on these occasions. So when we reach.
ed the yacht she spoke to the sailing
master and asked him what he thought
of the weather.
"Fair and square, my Lady; l think
it will change afore night, but, so far,
l see nothing to be alarmed about"
"Perhaps the boy had better go
ashore said Mr.. Cardew.
"Nonsense said Mr.. Hemphill.
"Mrs. Farmer wants sail as well ss
ourselves. Let the lad remain. You'd
like the sea, Sir Jocelyn 2"
"Oh, yes y he laughed; 81 love the
seal"
That decided the question. l remain
ed, and we were soon under weigh,
rushing down the coast in the direc.
tion of Portland Bill. Captain Arm
strong watched US for awhile; and then,
waving his hat as a farewell; turned
up the path toward the Manor.
He encountered Charley, my hus-
band, and the old fisherman on the
way, and stopped, as sailors like to talk
with sailors.
Shortly after Captain Armstrong an
nounced that he was going over to
Weymouth.
81 wonder you didn't go in the Fire
fly, then" remarked Miss Paradys.
"lf l had, there would havs been
nobody to take them dry Clothes" re-
marked the sailor-captain.
"Dry clothes! What do you mean .
You don't pretend to say there will be
rain this afternoon with this wind 2
cried Captain Martyn-Henry. "Why,
it's lovely day"
80 it is, aequiesced the sailor, shut
fine days do not last forever. Do you
see those long white wisps of clouds?
Do you see that dark line to wiudward,
and the bank of clouds in the south
west The wind is in those clouds; it
will blow from the southwest before
night, and, with this ripple and tide,
iaioe uicc cuti .ou Tue SHeSll Dduk'
That's about the only bank in England
on which do not care for a check
Captain Armstrong ordered some dry
clothes for the ladies, greatly to the
amusement of the maid who packed
them in the portmanteau.
While these preparations were being
made, the quiet captain sanntered on,
telling the others to pick him up at
Farmers cottage. Charley, my hus-
band, was at home.
81 think you're sensible young fell
low, Farmer" said the sailor. "Just
put few of your wife's things in a
carpet bag or box; and / Il take them
to Weymouth. The yacht will get
wet, expect" Charley was rot so
much surprised, as he had been talking
with Barnes the fisherman. But he
said
"Ill bring them over, sir, thank you
heartily"
mo, come with us. You can sit
with Roberts. Make haste. Have you
any clothes line Ieady7'
"Clothes line J" exclaimed Charley,
"Plenty,"